2017 NBA Mock Draft: What if the Lakers don’t take Lonzo Ball?

The Charlotte Hornets already have their future solution at the lead guard spot, but finding Kemba Walker a backcourt made could be a priority for the team in the 2017 draft. Luckily, Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell should be available in this range and he could project to develop into an Avery Bradley-esque combo guard who can defend multiple positions and shoot it a bit more than Bradley.

Mitchell already has the physical frame to be a good defender at the next level. Despite being 6-foot-3, he has a 6-foot-10 wingspan and weighs in at a strong 211 pounds. That should give Mitchell the length and bulk to handle the bigger opponents that he’ll face in the NBA. In college, he used that size to help create turnovers, generating 2.6 steals per 40 minutes as a sophomore.

On offense, Mitchell still needs to make some improvements, but he has some upside as a secondary ball-handler and outside shot maker. He improved significantly as a sophomore from behind the arc, but still only made 35.4 percent of his 3-point attempts. It’s far from elite, but showing improvement is valuable and could bode well for his future.

Learn more about Donovan Mitchell at The Step Back.